| The Asian Earthquake | The number of people known to have died across south-east Asia in the aftermath of the most powerful earthquake in 40 years is now expected to rise to over 150,000. The epicentre of the earthquake was off the western island of Sumatra in Indonesia, striking at about 0100 GMT (0800 local time) on Boxing Day. Dozens of buildings were destroyed in the initial quake before a huge wall of water, up to 10m high in places, hit the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra. Officials said Aceh was the worst hit area, which lies closest to the epicentre. In Sri Lanka, a wide stretch of the eastern coastline - from Jaffna in the north to the popular tourist beaches in the south - have been devastated, while in India, more than 2,000km (1,243 miles) of southern coast was swamped by tidal waves, including the states of Tamil Nadu - whose capital, Madras, was particularly badly hit - Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, as well as the federally administered territory of Pondicherry. The western coast of southern Thailand has been badly affected, including Phuket and Phi Phi islands and the mainland resorts of Krabi and Phang Nga. High waves and floods inundated the Maldives and people are reported to have been swept away from beaches near the northern island of Penang in Malaysia. Waves also struck Somalia, Kenya, Burma, Mauritius, Reunion and the Seychelles. |
Sunday's 9.0 magnitude earthquake sent huge waves from Malaysia to Africa and survivors and rescuers in South East Asia are battling the devastation left by sea surges that are thought to have killed more than 20,000 people and wiped out entire communities. A family from St Albans are amongst a group of Europeans who managed to escape and have been describing how they survived being virtually swept away when the waves flooded into Arugam Bay, a popular surfing spot that is full of tourists at this time of year. But Duncan Ridgley and his family are not visitors. They had just moved to Sri Lanka to start a new life. When he spoke to the BBC he was sitting on high ground overlooking the bay waiting for help. Their only contact with the outside world is a telephone which miraculously still works. "We've been trying to get through to our family and friends in England to let them know that we're all alive" he said. "There are about 50 Europeans here and we are stranded on a small bit of land. There are crocodiles out there so we can't move off where we are and no one knows we're here. "We've heard rumours that there might be another wave but we're on high ground here but we've got no food or water" he continued. "So please could you get a message to the Foreign Office or anyone and just let them know that we're here. | "Just please could you let everyone know that we are all alive. We've used up our nine lives and we'd just like to all come home." | | Duncan Ridgeley |
"Just please could you let everyone know that we are all alive. We've used up our nine lives and we'd just like to all come home." Moved Duncan, who had just moved to Sri Lanka after planning the move for two years, went on to explain what happened when the tsunami hit and how they managed to escape. "We were all dragged about 300 yards through hell basically" he explained. "We were on the beach and we saw this wave coming and we just ran. We got onto the roof of this land rover and it was pretty bad when the land rover just started to float down the road. "This wave just came in from nowhere and just took everything in its path with it. Every hotel on the beach just got washed away and I just managed to get hold of my son's hand and run. "It's your worst nightmare" he added. "We moved away to get away from terrorism and stuff in London and thought we'd come and live in a peaceful little village in the middle of nowhere and we were just beginning to relax." Saved His daughter Sasha, 12, described how she nearly got separated from the rest of the family. "I remember this big wave and everything floating around and everyone just trying to hold onto something before being pulled into the water" she said. "I got split up from them [my family] but this guy called Stefan saved my life and he took me back over to my parents. "I was holding onto this fridge and had a nail on this piece of wood stuck in my foot" she continued. "I was being pulled under the water but then the water went down and he picked me up and piggy backed me over to my parents." Sasha also wanted to let her friends know that she was alright despite the terifying experience. "It's just horrible" she said. "There are a lot of injured people. There's no water and we just can't get out of here. "I'm injured but I'm OK." You can listen to the full interview using the link on the right hand side. The Ridgleys are now back in Britain safe and well and recovering from their ordeal. | 
